What is meant by the net of a solid?

A geometry net
is a 2-dimensional shape that can be folded to form a
3-dimensional shape or a solid. Or a net is a pattern made when
the surface of a three-dimensional figure is laid out flat showing
each face of the figure. A solid may have different nets.

Below are the steps to determine whether a net forms a solid:

1. Make sure that the solid and the net have the same number of
faces and that the shapes of the faces of the solid match the
shapes of the corresponding faces in the net.

2. Visualize how the net is to be folded to form the solid and
make sure that all the sides fit together properly.

Nets are helpful when we need to find the surface area of the
solids. Scroll down the page to see how the nets fold to form the various shapes.

What is the net of a Cube?

A cube is a three-dimensional figure with six equal square faces.

How many nets are there for a cube?

There are altogether 11 possible nets for a cube as shown in the following figures.

Analyze the net of a cylinder to determine volume and surface area
The diagram below shows a net for a cylinder.
a. Suppose the net is assembled. Find the volume of the cylinder.
b. Find the surface area of the cylinder.

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